Cheikh Al Maarouf Day
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Every 18 March is Cheikh Al Maarouf Day in Comoros. The day is designed to honour the memory of and remember the achievements of Sheikh Al Maarouf, who founded the Sufi Islamic sect called “Shadhili” in Comoros. In 2027, Cheikh Al Maarouf Day falls on Thursday 18 March. The holiday will be on Saturday 18 March in 2028. Although there are other Sufi sects in Comoros, including the Qadiriya and Rifai, and not all Muslims in Comoros are Sufis, the prominence of the Shadhili sect and the great influence of “Al Maarouf” were deemed justification enough to make his birthday (18 March) a public holiday. During the years under French colonial rule, Sheikh Al Maarouf established the Shadhili tariqa (school) of Islam on Grand Comore. He was quickly exiled by competing proponents of Islam on the island, at the time. But today, he is considered one of the key Islamic leaders in the whole history of Comoros.
History
The day is designed to honour the memory of and remember the achievements of Sheikh Al Maarouf, who founded the Sufi Islamic sect called “Shadhili” in Comoros. During the years under French colonial rule, Sheikh Al Maarouf established the Shadhili tariqa (school) of Islam on Grand Comore. But today, he is considered one of the key Islamic leaders in the whole history of Comoros
How It's Celebrated
The holiday will be on Saturday 18 March in 2028. Although there are other Sufi sects in Comoros, including the Qadiriya and Rifai, and not all Muslims in Comoros are Sufis, the prominence of the Shadhili sect and the great influence of “Al Maarouf” were deemed justification enough to make his birth